GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2204, 7 October 1907, Page 2

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Press Association,

AUCKLAND, Oct. 5. Street collections on Saturday made by (the St. _ John Ambulance Association to provide a first-aid station realised £430. Other contributions brought the total to £450. There are some small returns to qome. At- midnight while some members of tho crew of tho steamer Squall wero yarning on the vessel alongside the railway wharf an unknown man, aged about 35, suddenly appeared among them, clothed in only the scantiest underwear. He stated he was ill serious trouble and wished to avoid the police. He expressed his intention of drowning himself at 6 o’clock in the morning. Springing on the steamer’s rail he dived over-, board Constable Holland, who was on the wharf, joined the Squall’s crew. A boat was lowered and was rowed after the would-bo suicide. He swam under the wharf, and his pursuers were on the point of securing him when he took a long dive and was never seen again. His discarded coat, trousers, and shirt were subsequentlv discovered on the wharf. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5.

The trawler chartered by the. Government to conduct experimental trawling in New Zealand waters returned to Wellington yesterday, after an absence of some three weeks, during which time she trawled between Hokitika and Rocks Point, also in Golden Bay. A variety of fish was taken between Hokitika and Rocks Point, the catch including schnapper, soles, and flounders, but the fiat fish, though of good quality, were in the minority. In Golden Bay the fishing results were very good, but bad weather considerably interfered with the work, and the trawler called ■in at Nelson a day or two ago. On the way from that port trawling was carried. on to the west of Cook’s Straits, down as far as Stephen’s Island, and some capital catches were made, schnapper being the principal variety, as was also the case in Golden Bay. Of the fish captured 115 cases were landed here, while thirty had previously been put ashore at Westport, making a total of 145 for the three weeks’, trip. Nora Niven left last evening for Napier, where she will take in coal and water and have repairs made to her freezing apparatus, and she will leave on Tusday or Wednesday to exploit the coast which has not yet been touched. She will commence north of the Bay of Plenty, and thtui proceed to Auckland. She will subsequently travel from the Great Barrier northwards round the Three Kings, and down the West Coast to Wellington. This departure from the programme previously arranged_ has been decided on owing to the boisterous weather on the West Coast, and partly owing to the indisposition of Mr. Ayson, chief inspector of fisheries, who was on board the trawler. Mr. Ayson did not accompany the Kora Niven northwards. She will be joined at Auckland by Mr. H. Stephenson, inspector of fisheries at Russell, as representative of the Government in charge of the trawling operations, who will remain with her while she is iu northern waters.

. WHANGAREI, Oct, 5. ISows was received from Tawai this afternoon that Francis Montague, 54 years of age, a married man with a large family, was drowned on Friday evening when crossing the Marama'ku river, which was in flood at die time. No one was with him at the time. The body was found this morning. Deceased was a storekeeper near Tawai, and was a well-known settler for many years’ standing in the district.

i HOKITIKA, Oct. 5. John Johnston, employed on the l mice of Wales dredge at ltoss, was this morning. Deceased Oind his mates, Currie and Roberts, were proceeding in a pontoon to the iredgo when the pontoon sank. Currie and Roberts saved themselves by swimming ashore. They made every effort to save Johnston, hut when tlie body was recovered life was extinct. Deceased leaves a widow aiid ono child three weeks old.

, . GORE, Oct, 5. At the inquest on the body of John Gouk, the _ ex-contingenter found dead at Merino Downs, a verdict was returned to the effect' that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane. The evidence showed that he was subject to periodical fits of insobriety, and it is thought that ho was suffering from the effects of a drinking bout when he took his life, though when last seen alive he appeared to be all right. Gouk was a corporal in the Fourth Contingent, and in his youth a private in tlio Scots Greys.

TIMARU, Oct, 5. On arrival of tho steamer Navua here this morning, tho captain reported that a man named David Edwards, who signed on at Dunedin as a trimmer, was missing. A fireman on the boat says he saw Edwards on deck when the Navua was at Oamaiu. Edwards liad been drinking heavily.